V
On the next day, having completed his business at the Yamen, Ling leftthe town, and without desiring any ceremony quietly betook himself tohis new residence within the camp, which was situated among the milletfields some distance from Si-chow. As soon as his presence became knownall those who occupied positions of command, and whose years of servicewould shortly come to an end, hastened to present themselves beforehim, bringing with them offerings according to the rank they held, theythemselves requiring a similar service from those beneath them. Firstamong these, and next in command to Ling himself, was the Chief ofBowmen, a person whom Ling observed with extreme satisfaction to be verypowerful in body and possessing a strong and dignified countenancewhich showed unquestionable resolution and shone with a tiger-liketenaciousness of purpose.
"Undoubtedly," thought Ling, as he observed this noble and prepossessingperson, "here is one who will be able to assist me in whateverperplexities may arise. Never was there an individual who seemed moreworthy to command and lead; assuredly to him the most intricate andprolonged military positions will be an enjoyment; the most craftystratagems of the enemy as the full moon rising from behind a screenof rushes. Without making any pretence of knowledge, this person willexplain the facts of the case to him and place himself without limit inhis hands."
For this purpose he therefore detained the Chief of Bowmen when theothers departed, and complimented him, with many expressive phrases, onthe excellence of his appearance, as the thought occurred to him thatby this means, without disclosing the full measure of his ignorance, theperson in question might be encouraged to speak unrestrainedly of thenature of his exploits, and perchance thereby explain the use of theappliances employed and the meaning of the various words of order,in all of which details the Commander was as yet most disagreeablyimperfect. In this, however, he was disappointed, for the Chief ofBowmen, greatly to Ling's surprise, received all his polished sentenceswith somewhat foolish smiles of great self-satisfaction, merely replyingfrom time to time as he displayed his pigtail to greater advantage orrearranged his gold-embroidered cloak:
"This person must really pray you to desist; the honour is indeed toogreat."
Disappointed in his hope, and not desiring after this circumstance toexpose his shortcomings to one who was obviously not of a highly-refinedunderstanding, no matter how great his valour in war or his knowledge ofmilitary affairs might be, Ling endeavoured to lead him to converse ofthe bowmen under his charge. In this matter he was more successful, forthe Chief spoke at great length and with evilly-inspired contempt oftheir inelegance, their undiscriminating and excessive appetites, andthe frequent use which they made of low words and gestures. Desiring tobecome acquainted rather with their methods of warfare than with theirdomestic details, Ling inquired of him what formation they relied uponwhen receiving the foemen.
"It is a matter which has not engaged the attention of this one,"replied the Chief, with an excessive absence of interest. "There are somany affairs of intelligent dignity which cannot be put aside, andwhich occupy one from beginning to end. As an example, this person maydescribe how the accomplished Li-Lu, generally depicted as the Blue-eyedDove of Virtuous and Serpent-like Attitudes, has been scattering gloryupon the Si-chow Hall of Celestial Harmony for many days past. It isan enlightened display which the high-souled Ling should certainlyendeavour to dignify with his presence, especially at the portionwhere the amiable Li-Lu becomes revealed in the appearance of a Pekingsedan-chair bearer and describes the manner and likenesses of certainpersons--chiefly high-priests of Buddha, excessively round-bodiedmerchants who feign to be detained within Peking on affairs of commerce,maidens who attend at the tables of tea-houses, and those of both sexeswho are within the city for the first time to behold its temples andopen spaces--who are conveyed from place to place in the chair."
"And the bowmen?" suggested Ling, with difficulty restraining anundignified emotion.
"Really, the elegant Ling will discover them to be persons of deficientmanners, and quite unworthy of occupying his well-bred conversation,"replied the Chief. "As regards their methods--if the renowned Linginsists--they fight by means of their bows, with which they dischargearrows at the foemen, they themselves hiding behind trees and rocks.Should the enemy be undisconcerted by the cloud of arrows, and advance,the bowmen are instructed to make a last endeavour to frighten them backby uttering loud shouts and feigning the voices of savage beasts of theforest and deadly snakes."
"And beyond that?" inquired Ling.
"Beyond that there are no instructions," replied the Chief. "Thebowmen would then naturally take to flight, or, if such a course becameimpossible, run to meet the enemy, protesting that they were convincedof the justice of their cause, and were determined to fight on theirside in the future."
"Would it not be of advantage to arm them with cutting weapons also?"inquired Ling; "so that when all their arrows were discharged they wouldstill be able to take part in the fight, and not be lost to us?"
"They would not be lost to us, of course," replied the Chief, "as wewould still be with them. But such a course as the one you suggest couldnot fail to end in dismay. Being as well armed as ourselves, theywould then turn upon us, and, having destroyed us, proceed to establishleaders of their own."
As Ling and the Chief of Bowmen conversed in this enlightened manner,there arose a great outcry from among the tents, and presently thereentered to them a spy who had discovered a strong force of the enemy notmore than ten or twelve li away, who showed every indication of marchingshortly in the direction of Si-chow. In numbers alone, he continued,they were greatly superior to the bowmen, and all were well armed. Thespreading of this news threw the entire camp into great confusion, manyprotesting that the day was not a favourable one on which to fight,others crying that it was their duty to fall back on Si-chow and protectthe women and children. In the midst of this tumult the Chief of Bowmenreturned to Ling, bearing in his hand a written paper which he regardedin uncontrollable anguish.
"Oh, illustrious Ling," he cried, restraining his grief with difficulty,and leaning for support upon the shoulders of two bowmen, "howprosperous indeed are you! What greater misfortune can engulf a personwho is both an ambitious soldier and an affectionate son, than to losesuch a chance of glory and promotion as only occurs once within thelifetime, and an affectionate and venerable father upon the same day?Behold this mandate to attend, without a moment's delay, at the funeralobsequies of one whom I left, only last week, in the fullness of healthand power. The occasion being an unsuitable one, I will not call uponthe courteous Ling to join me in sorrow; but his own devout filial pietyis so well known that I can conscientiously rely upon an application forabsence to be only a matter of official ceremony."
"The application will certainly be regarded as merely officialceremony," replied Ling, without resorting to any delicate pretence ofmeaning, "and the refined scruples of the person who is addressing mewill be fully met by the official date of his venerated father'sdeath being fixed for a more convenient season. In the meantime, theunobtrusive Chief of Bowmen may take the opportunity of requesting thatthe family tomb be kept unsealed until he is heard from again."
Ling turned away, as he finished this remark, with a dignified feelingof not inelegant resentment. In this way he chanced to observe a largebody of soldiers which was leaving the camp accompanied by their lessercaptains, all crowned with garlands of flowers and creeping plants. Inspite of his very inadequate attainments regarding words of order, theCommander made it understood by means of an exceedingly short sentencethat he was desirous of the men returning without delay.
"Doubtless the accomplished Commander, being but newly arrived in thisneighbourhood, is unacquainted with the significance of this display,"said one of the lesser captains pleasantly. "Know then, O wise andcustom-respecting Ling, that on a similar day many years ago thisvaliant band of bowmen was engaged in a very honourable affair withcertain of the enemy. Since then it has been the practice to commemoratethe matte
r with music and other forms of delight within the large squareat Si-chow."
"Such customs are excellent," said Ling affably. "On this occasion,however, the public square will be so insufferably thronged with thenumber of timorous and credulous villagers who have pressed into thetown that insufficient justice would be paid to your entrancing display.In consequence of this, we will select for the purpose some convenientspot in the neighbourhood. The proceedings will be commenced by adisplay of arrow-shooting at moving objects, followed by racing anddancing, in which this person will lead. I have spoken."
At these words many of the more courageous among the bowmen becamedestructively inspired, and raised shouts of defiance against the enemy,enumerating at great length the indignities which they would heap upontheir prisoners. Cries of distinction were also given on behalf of Ling,even the more terrified exclaiming:
"The noble Commander Ling will lead us! He has promised, and assuredlyhe will not depart from his word. Shielded by his broad and sacred body,from which the bullets glance aside harmlessly, we will advance upon theenemy in the stealthy manner affected by ducks when crossing the swamp.How altogether superior a person our Commander is when likened unto theleaders of the foemen--they who go into battle completely surrounded bytheir archers!"
Upon this, perceiving the clear direction in which matters were turning,the Chief of Bowmen again approached Ling.
"Doubtless the highly-favoured person whom I am now addressing has beenendowed with exceptional authority direct from Peking," he remarked withinsidious politeness. "Otherwise this narrow-minded individual wouldsuggest that such a decision does not come within the judgment of aCommander."
In his ignorance of military matters it had not entered the mind ofLing that his authority did not give him the power to commence anattack without consulting other and more distinguished persons. At thesuggestion, which he accepted as being composed of truth, he paused, theenlightened zeal with which he had been inspired dying out as he plainlyunderstood the difficulties by which he was enclosed. There seemed asingle expedient path for him in the matter; so, directing a personof exceptional trustworthiness to prepare himself for a journey, heinscribed a communication to the Mandarin Li Keen, in which he narratedthe facts and asked for speedy directions, and then despatched it withgreat urgency to Si-chow.